How Michigan State Football is approaching spring roster fluidity

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State Football’s spring camp is officially in the books, and while the schedule feels good and is being revamped for the summer, there are still concerns surrounding the transfer portal.

Some of the players who took the field Saturday may not be with the Spartans this fall, and that’s a complicated issue to digest, especially for players just getting introduced this spring.

“I mean, the landscape creates that, and so we’re not the only ones dealing with it,” Spartans coach Jonathan Smith said after the event. “You just try to create an environment where these guys feel like they have an opportunity and they’re just going to develop and grow. I think we did that for about four months.

“I think we have a lot of guys who are optimistic about the approach. But again, in this landscape, everyone has their individual decisions. And again, vice versa; I see it as a way to build on the coming months can add the selection.”

Some players who know the transfer process have sympathy when it comes to the portal.

“I’m a product of the portal,” said Spartans running back Nate Carter, who is entering his second season at Michigan State. “So I’m never going to tell anyone else that they can’t make the best decisions for themselves because if I didn’t enter the portal, I wouldn’t be here doing what I’m doing right now. So I’m blessed to have this opportunity. And like I said, I like the guys who went to the portal, I like the guys who stay because they make the best decisions for themselves, and at the end of the day that’s what I want.

And obviously I’m sure we’re going to bring in some guys that can help us grow as a team and help us grow as a family, and that’ll be exciting to see what we bring in and obviously who stays so that we can continue to build on what we have now.”

The transfer portal reopened on Tuesday and will close on April 30.

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